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Eagle Cap Wilderness, Oregon – Volunteer Vacations 2022

July 31, 2022 - August 6, 2022

Trip Navigation

Join the 2022 trip into the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest as we head for Standley Ridge nested high in the Eagle Cap Wilderness! We’ll depart from the Bear Wallow Trailhead and backpack into the Historic Standley Guard Station. Pack stock will carry all food and group gear, giving us time for a 4.2-mile hike into base camp with 1,000 ft of elevation gain. The trail provides spectacular views of the Bear Creek and Minam River drainages along with some of the high points of the Wallowa Mountains. Our camp for the week is near the Standley Guard Station Cabin. Work will include the restoration of braded trail sections and addressing incised trail tread with the installation of check dams, drain dips and water bars. Some lighter trail maintenance (logout and bushing), campsite rehabilitation, and a bit of sprucing up around the Standley Guard station may also be on the docket if time allows.

AHS acknowledges with gratitude that this project takes place on the traditional lands of the Nimiipuu (Nez Perce) and Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla peoples past and present. We honor the land itself, the Indigenous communities who have stewarded this land for generations, and those who continue to steward these lands today. AHS invites all volunteers to join us in our commitment to support and amplify the work of Indigenous communities as they work to dismantle the systems of oppression that these communities continue to face today.

Host

Forest Service

Accommodations

Primitive Tent Sites

Hiking/Access

This is a backpacking trip. Volunteers will need to carry their personal gear to base camp, about 5 miles in.

Project Rating

Strenuous

Minimum Volunteer Age

18

Maximum Group Size

10

Area and Attractions

The spectacular Eagle Cap Wilderness takes in most of the high country in the remote Wallowa Mountains of NE Oregon. The largest wilderness area in the State, The Eagle Cap encompasses over 350,000 acres of breathtaking mountain scenery. You'll find 52 glacial lakes, 4 wild and scenic rivers, and over 500 miles of trail in this rugged area. Our base camp for the week will be located near the historic Standley Guard Station (7,400ft) straddling the divide between the Bear Creek and Minam River drainages. The Standley Guard Station is an old cabin that was the site of range studies in the early 1900s. The cabin is in good condition but is not for public use. This area offers views of steep rocky mountain ranges framed by lush green valleys. For those looking to get our and explore on the layover day, there are multiple trails to discover that provide access to the Minam River, North Minam River and Bear Creek.

Accommodations Description

This is a backpacking trip. Volunteers will need to carry their personal gear to base camp, about 5 miles in. The group will camp in a primitive, backcountry site. Pack stock will carry in group cooking gear, cooking tables, and a large rainfly for the cooking area. Volunteers should bring their own tent and personal camping gear including sleeping bags, sleeping pads and personal utensils and bowls/mugs. If room allows, pack stock my be able to pack volunteers backpacking chairs and tents.

Travel

Lewiston-Nez Perce County Regional Airport in Lewiston, ID or Walla Walla Regional Airport in“ Walla Walla, WA are the closest airports. Airport pick up and drop off is available for volunteers and will be arranged upon confirmation of the trip.

Location

Eagle Cap Wilderness, Wallowa–Whitman National Forest
88401 OR 82, Enterprise, OR 97828 United States + Google Map
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